{"id":930,"date":"2014-10-28T15:47:17","date_gmt":"2014-10-28T15:47:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bodylanguageproject.com\/nonverbal-dictionary\/?p=930"},"modified":"2015-06-06T11:59:46","modified_gmt":"2015-06-06T11:59:46","slug":"body-language-of-smiling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bodylanguageproject.com\/nonverbal-dictionary\/body-language-of-smiling\/","title":{"rendered":"Body Language of Smiling"},"content":{"rendered":"

Body Language of Smiling<\/p>\n

\"BodyLanguageProjectCom<\/a> \"BodyLanguageProjectCom<\/a> \"BodyLanguageProjectCom<\/a> Cue<\/strong>: Smiling.<\/p>\n

Synonym(s)<\/strong>: N\/A<\/p>\n

Description<\/strong>: The lips are stretched toward the ears and curled upwards in a u-shape.<\/p>\n

In One Sentence<\/strong>: Smiling is a sign of submission and happiness.<\/p>\n

How To Use it<\/strong>: Various smiles create various impressions in others. A smile should suit the context as well as your desired end goal. See Variant for the types of smiles and their associated use. However, understand that generally speaking, the smile is a universally signal of submission and appeasement.<\/p>\n

Context<\/strong>: a) General b) Dating.<\/p>\n

Verbal Translation<\/strong>: \u201cI\u2019m stretching my lips out and upward in a u-shape because I\u2019m happy, fearful, or stressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Variant<\/strong>: See Smiling<\/a>, Fear Smile<\/a>, Friendly Smile<\/a>, Frown (the) or Downturned Smile<\/a>, Honest Smile or Duchenne Smile<\/a>, Jaw Drop Smile<\/a>, Nervous Smile<\/a>, Polite Smile (the)<\/a>, Uneven Smile Or Lopsided Smile<\/a>, Upper Lip Smile<\/a>, Artificial Smile or Fake Smile<\/a>, Nervous Smile<\/a>, Honest Smile or Duchenne Smile<\/a>, Contempt Facial Expression<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cue In Action<\/strong>: a) Two strangers passed on the street, smile at each other to show that they acknowledge each other, and continued on their way. b) She had a big grin on her face each time she saw her new boyfriend. He made her feel special.<\/p>\n

Meaning and\/or Motivation<\/strong>: Many biologists think smiles have roots as a fearful gesture, as a sort of \u201cfear grin.\u201d Today though, human smiles are a universally submissive gesture but they can also symbolize pleasure, amusement, aggression, or anxiety (grimace). These other emotions never truly supersede the most common purpose of the smile, which is to show submission.<\/p>\n

Smiles are controlled by two sets of muscles: the zygomatic major muscles, that run down the side of the face to connect to the corners of the mouth and the orbicularis oculi muscles that pull the eyes back.<\/p>\n

Smiles are our way we to show that we are non-threatening and wish to maintain peace. Those that lack smiles altogether or who smile infrequently are much more dominant and want to be seen as such. Today smiles usually indicate happiness, but they can also be present during fear and stress.<\/p>\n

Smiling frequently can sometimes be sexual, but accompanying signals, coupled with the proper context, must be assessed to create certainty. Women will smile for a great variety of reasons and will smile regularly to appease men for no other reason besides habit. Smiling is a natural part of being a woman and while smiling alone is submissive, it doesn\u2019t necessarily indicate sexual interest. Accompanying signals must adjoin smiling for it to be a true sexual signal. However, smiles due tend to appear most from happiness, and as a result of genuine feelings of optimism. They also indicate confidence and hopefulness. Smiling has also even been shown to be infectious.<\/p>\n

Cue Cluster<\/strong>: a) Smiling can be a stand-alone signal of appeasement or submission i.e. that a person is no threat which requires no additional cues. b) If smiling is done over a shoulder, with pouting lips and partly closed eyes, as in the sideways glance, it should be taken as a sexual cue, but absent, should be construed only as a regular appeasement gesture and nothing more.<\/p>\n

Body Language Category<\/strong>: Amplifier, Appease, Courtship displays, Fearful body language, Indicators of sexual interest (IOsI), Nonthreatening body language, Readiness to submit postures, Stressful body language, Submissive body language.<\/p>\n

Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Aggarwal, P., & Mcgill, A. (2007). Is that car smiling at me? Schema congruity as a basis for evaluating anthropomorphized products. Journal of Consumer Research, 34, 468\u2013479.<\/p>\n

Abel, Ernest L. and Michael L. Kruger. Smile Intensity in Photographs Predicts Longevity. Psychological Science. 2010. 21(4): 542-544.
\nSeder, J. Patrick and Shigehiro Oishi. Intensity of Smiling in Facebook Photos Predicts Future Life Satisfaction. Social Psychological and Personality Science. 2012. 3(4): 407-413.<\/p>\n

Your Facebook Smile Predicts Life Satisfaction<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n